Kiszla: Broncos should think "safety first" in NFL free agency

He is doomed to be known forever for his Brain Freeze against Baltimore. Yes, there were other reasons the Broncos got bounced rudely from the playoffs.

But, if Denver is serious about winning a Super Bowl before quarterback Peyton Manning's 40th birthday, the Broncos must improve at safety, the weakest position on the team.

Denver coach John Fox forgives Moore.

Sorry, I can't.

If the Broncos target any position in free agency, please, let it be safety.

When the market opens on March 12, let's hope Denver is ready to pounce. In the NFL, you never know for sure which disgruntled veteran will be stuck with the dreaded franchise tag and which lucky player will be allowed to test free agency.

Should the Broncos want to invest heavily on a defensive upgrade, however, they should keep their eyes on San Francisco free safety Dashon Goldson. Niners management indicates it's no certainty he will receive the franchise tag, and negotiations on a long-term deal show few signs of progress. At 28 years old, Goldson has outgrown the youthful mistakes that plague Moore.

What gives Goldson a shot at the elite level in his prime is a combination of ballhawking skills and explosive hits. The downside? He took home a $6.2 million salary last season and wants to get paid. And I admit a preference for spending at the bargain end of the store in the NFL's free-agency market. For example: The reasons to admire Baltimore safety Ed Reed begin with a long list of Pro Bowl appearances, but there is way too much gray in his beard.

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But would I dump linebacker D.J. Williams, if the Broncos could instead make room for Goldson? In a heartbeat.

When analyzing what Denver must do to win the Super Bowl, there is one play from the loss against Baltimore that is impossible to shake from the memory. And it probably isn't the play you are thinking about.

After Fox watched Manning take a knee at the end of regulation to calm the Broncos' jangled nerves, overtime actually began well for Denver, with the teams trading punts and Britton Colquitt pinning the Ravens at their 6-yard line with a magnificent boot.

Huddling with teammates in his end zone, the plays barked by Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco were extremely conservative.

On first down, Ray Rice ran for no gain. On second down, a pass to Anquan Boldin fell harmlessly incomplete.

As the stadium growled at full roar, the Ravens took a delay-of-game penalty before getting off their next snap, and the football was moved half the distance to the goal line.

It was third down, with 13 yards needed to keep the drive alive, or the Ravens would face the unenviable task of punting to Trindon Holliday, who already had returned two kicks for touchdowns. At worst, the Broncos figured to regain possession for Manning near midfield, a short drive from a field-goal attempt to win the game.

Flacco stood from the shotgun in his end zone. The ball was snapped. He threw a floater that seemed to hang in the air way too long. But it landed between Denver defenders Jim Leonhard and Tony Carter in the hands of Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta for a 24-yard gain.

You know the rest of the sad story.

Two days after the bitter defeat, I brought up that specific play to Fox in the hallway outside the Denver locker room. He responded with a hard stare and said the Broncos' defense had a history of struggling with similar situations born of similar pass routes all season long.

So all the sympathy the Broncos have for Moore doesn't erase a glaring need in the secondary.

It sounds as if Buffalo is intent on retaining Jairus Byrd, but there figures to be free safeties who reach the open market as cheaper alternatives. Just as 25-year-old Louis Delmas of Detroit was establishing himself as one of the league's top safeties, nagging injuries have turned him into a health risk. Glover Quin of Houston is a 27-year-old converted cornerback whose "safety first" mentality is in sharp contrast to Moore's apparent infatuation with the glitz of top 10 plays on "SportsCenter."

John Elway believes a team has to be mentally tough to survive the win-or-go-home tournament that crowns the NFL champion, and he has the Super Bowl rings to back his theory.

While Moore stood tall and took the heat after the gaffe against Baltimore, the evidence suggests there is more swagger than substance to him. As a rookie, he got benched by the sixth game in the regular season. Fox is correct: Moore seemed more focused and more dependable last season. At least Moore was more trustworthy, until it counted most, and a coverage mistake against Baltimore receiver Jacoby Jones that many current and former NFL players called unforgivable allowed the Ravens to shock Denver with a 70-yard touchdown to tie the game during the final minute of the fourth quarter.

Elway spoke the truth: A 13-3 record isn't good enough. Why?

"When you lose in the first round of the playoffs," Elway said at the NFL combine, "you know you have to be better."

The buzz is always about sexier free agents. But, at this point in his career, would Steven Jackson really be an upgrade for the Broncos at running back?

The Breakdown

Rahim Moore, BroncosSecond-year player intercepted one pass, made 60 tackles and failed to knock down a touchdown pass that cost the Broncos a victory over Super Bowl champion Baltimore in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Dashon Goldson, San FranciscoHe intercepted three passes and made 55 tackles for the NFC champions, but he might receive the team's franchise tag for the second season in a row.

Louis Delmas, DetroitDelmas intercepted one pass and made 28 tackles playing in only eight games because of a knee injury that remains a concern.

Jairus Byrd, BuffaloHe intercepted five passes and made 53 tackles on his way to second-team all-pro, but also might receive the Bills' franchise tag.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story